Day 2 - ‘Tomorrows going to be an easy day.’ Dad said…

Well on paper it should have been.  But it wasn’t.  We set off at 10.30am, rowing 13miles, negotiating 4 locks and stopping for a short lunch break (and a cheeky swim in the river).  Even then, we only got to our destination at 6.30pm.  Today should have been quicker.

Rowing has got easier as the river has got wider (although it’s still bendy) and we are rowing as a double scull, so we are moving faster.  But progress is slow and just plain hard work. However we are driven to keep on going thanks to the generous donations through our Just Giving page and our dogged determination to finish the row (unless it’s not safe to do so).  I think what I am trying to say we are both rather tired and not sure if we have set ourselves realistic targets.  

We are getting better at following a good path down the river without getting tangled up in overhanging trees and reeds, mainly because I have inadvertently taken on the role of chief navigator.  (Graham here - is Vicky really suggesting that I was a rubbish navigator?) What this means in reality is that I spend all my time concentrating on two panoramic rear view mirrors mounted on a post at the back of the boat which show me what is approaching. This is really preferable to constantly having to turn around to check.  Credit to Dad for this mirror configuration, which I was originally sceptical about, but am now a huge supporter of.  We are also working on getting more slick as a rowing pair, honing our technique (thanks to ingrained guidance from Christchurch Rowing Club coaches) and improving our communication (as chief navigator I have to give Dad clear and concise instructions, which has never been a strength of mine). 



Tomorrow we are rowing 15miles and negotiating 7 locks. We are planning an early start…

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 7 - Pain killers, dry bags and fenders.

Image
 Day 7.  We have arrived in Windsor, after 5 locks and 12 miles. Today we rowed through Marlow and stopped for lunch in Maidenhead.  Again, we have kindly been offered safe overnight mooring thanks to a friendly rowing club. This time the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club.  Friends met us at the rowing club with snacks galore, took us to our accommodation and joined us for a walk to Windsor Castle   The river has got much busier with big motor boats and rowing boats.  Dads mirrors are working a treat, which is helpful as my neck is incredibly sore. After the first couple of blogs, I decided to stop talking about he pain as no one wants to hear about that, but its still there and now affecting different parts of the body. Both of us have sore lower backs and blistered hands (despite wearing gloves).  Dad is suffering with sore hips and my shoulders and neck are affecting me.  It’s hardly surprising as we are rowing for between 5 to 6 hours a day. Dad star...
Read more

Planning and Preparations

Image
April-May 2022 Vicky (Mum of 2 boys) and Graham (Vicky's Dad), are proposing to row 153 miles down the River Thames from Lechlade in Gloucestershire, through London and finishing at the Thames Barrier. We plan to start on Friday 29th April and to finish on Sunday 8th May 2022. Our plan could change, but at the moment is: Start   Friday 29 April   around 1pm, Lechlade Marina,    0 miles .   1st day   -    pm Fri 29 April .     10.5 miles . Tadpole Bridge.   4 locks.   2nd day   - Sat 30 April . Eynsham   24 miles   ( +13 miles),   3 locks . 3rd day   - Sun 1 May .    Abingdon,   39 miles   ( +15 miles),   7 locks . 4th day -   Mon 2 May .     Wallingford   53 miles   ( +14 miles),   4 locks . 5th day   - Tue 3 May .     Reading   69 miles   ( + 16 miles),   4 locks . 6th day   - Wed 4 May .   ...
Read more

Last Day Photos (Central London and Greenwich)

Image
  Monday 9th May 2022  More photos in London, thanks to Katie, Vicky's friend. The river may not look too rough, but it was certainly throwing us around at times.  We could not stop rowing to look round or take any photos and are really pleased with Katie's superb photos.   CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE  -   The Emirates Air Line cable car, next to the O2 dome. Arriving at the Greenwich Yacht Club after 4 hours (19 miles) of continuous hard rowing (leaving Chiswick at the start of the ebb tide, and reaching Greenwich just before the tide started to flow against us). Total distance covered 150 miles from Lechlade in 10 days.   A huge   thank you   to Peter from the Greenwich Yacht Club for his hospitality and help when we arrived - ------------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, we are now really pleased to have taken on and successfully completed this challenge.   A heartfelt "Thank You" from both of us for your ...
Read more